Boyd calls for restructuring of LCEDC, resignations of their leaders
NEW CASTLE – When describing the current state of economic development in Lawrence County, Commissioner Morgan Boyd did not mince words.
“The first step in solving any problem is to recognize that there is one,” Boyd said. “Lawrence County’s economic development systems – Forward Lawrence – are not working, and have not worked for decades.”
In a prerecorded video posted to the Commissioner Morgan Boyd Facebook page, Boyd went over how he feels the current economic structure and leadership in the county is failing, and called for the resignations of the leaders of the Lawrence County Regional Chamber Foundation, Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) and the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
He also called for the resignation of the Lawrence County Economic Development Director Linda Nitch.
“Accountability is directed from the top,” Boyd said. “Our communities and our residents deserve better.”
Reason for making video
Boyd said what triggered him to make the video was the announcement on June 24 that Steelite International USA would be moving its corporate headquarters from Millennium Park in Neshannock Township to Youngstown, Ohio, taking 70 high-paying jobs with them.
Boyd said he can’t fault Steelite for their decision, as he feels the Youngstown area is booming with different amenities and hotels.
He said a lack of those features and resources in the county is why Steelite chose to place its flagship showroom in Youngstown in 2018, instead of in Lawrence County.
Boyd said the LCEDC, which owns Millennium Park, essentially let Steelite leave the county without any resistance.
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Boyd’s issues with LCEDC
Boyd said there are issues that are plaguing the county now that he feels the LCEDC, which is rebranding itself as Forward Lawrence, has not attempted to solve.
He said there is a lack of critical infrastructure, a declining population, high levels of blight and few business amenities.
He added the county needs more “shovel-ready sites” for developers, infrastructure access, first-class hotels, access to transportation networks and executive-level housing stock.
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Boyd said Millennium Park, which was touted by the LCEDC as the next “crown jewel” and business incubator in the county, has only one tenant after 10 years, and has over $4 million in loan repayments it owes by 2026, which he claims they haven’t paid one cent of so far.
He said a potential industrial park in Mahoning Township through the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) is currently being stalled.
He said the RIDC and county attorneys are currently in court trying to get a restrictive land covenant removed that prohibits development, with the former owners of the area being represented by the chief attorney of Forward Lawrence.
Boyd said the planned rack track and casino in Mahoning Township, that was being worked on by the LCEDC, fell through, the buildings of the former Shenango China Co. and the former Liberty Mutual Building are being left to rot, the Lawrence Village Plaza in Shenango Township has not had any new businesses in years, and said there was no effort from the LCEDC to help with the property of the former Ellwood City Medical Center when it closed.
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He believes with the current economic system in the county, there is no assistance for blight and neighborhood revitalization, no drive to attract new businesses to the main downtown corridors in the county, and no plans to expand infrastructure along the major commercial corridors and highways.
Lawrence compared to neighboring counties
Boyd said there has been no growth in Lawrence County, while neighboring counties, such as Butler and Beaver, have seen growth.
He said the Community Development Corporation of Butler County has over 50 economic development projects in the works, including $25 million in investment for business expansion along Route 228.
He said areas like Sharon and Youngstown are growing, while Beaver County is working to rebuild communities like Aliquippa and Monaca.
Boyd said businesses that wanted to come into Lawrence County have worked directly with either the commissioners or local municipalities, stating they have gotten no help from the county's chamber of commerce.
He said, based on its latest tax filings, the chamber spent 88% of its budget, or $520,000, on its staff, compared to 52%, or $150,000, for Butler County, and 47%, or $175,000, for Beaver County.
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“It makes you wonder who the Forward Lawrence agencies are really serving,” Boyd said.
Boyd said he feels Forward Lawrence leaders offer no outside opinions or voices, stating everything is done behind closed doors.
“This type of smoked-room-filled politics should have no place in our community,” he said.
Suggestions to be considered by Forward Lawrence
In conclusion, Boyd said the LCEDC has:
An inability to attract and retain businesses;
A lack of success in rebuilding downtown cores;
A failure to facilitate necessary infrastructure expansions;
An inability to keep young people in Lawrence County;
An aversion to public participation in economic development;
An unwillingness to include municipal elected officials on boards;
A reluctance to accept change;
An inability to set a strategic direction that positions the county for success.
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Therefore, Boyd made different suggestions for the organizations under Forward Lawrence to follow.
He thinks:
∙ all meetings should be open for the public to attend.
∙ municipal officials should be voting members of the boards of directors, to be chosen by public vote at county League of Municipalities meetings.
∙ organizations should release the last five years of their financial statements to the public, should change their bylaws to prohibit the Chamber Foundation board members to automatically serve on all three boards, remove the Foundation Board’s ability to appoint members to the chamber of commerce and LCEDC boards, and the aforementioned resignations.
The Lawrence County Regional Chamber Foundation is a nonprofit entity that provides funding to both the LCEDC and the chamber.
Members of the foundation board of directors are automatically members of the board of directors for the other two organizations.
Boyd was once a member of all three boards until he was removed from them in January after making public comments criticizing the Forward Lawrence initiative.
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Commissioner Loretta Spielvogel was later chosen as his replacement and is the only public official to serve on the boards.
Matter of LCEDC discussed at commissioners’ meeting
During the June 28 Lawrence County commissioners’ meeting, there was a proposed resolution up for vote that would redesignate the LCEDC as the industrial development organization for the county.
Boyd initially presented three amendments to the motion.
These amendments would stipulate that LCEDC’s meetings must be open to the public under current Pennsylvania Sunshine Act provisions, they must have at least three municipal members as voting members on the board of directors, and that the LCEDC needs to have a debt plan regarding the Millennium Park loans.
He said if those amendments aren’t followed, then the LCEDC would lose its designation.
After Boyd presented those proposed amendments, the motion ultimately failed after neither commissioner – Spielvogel and Dan Vogler, seconded the motion.
Both Vogler and Spielvogel felt they are not in a position to make a decision on those proposed amendments at that point in time, with them wanting county Solicitor Jason Medure to review the matter further.
Boyd said his reasoning for the amendments is that the LCEDC acts as a quasi-governmental agency, gets over 62% of its funding from taxpayers, and serves as an extension of the different governments in the county when planning developments and projects.
Vogler agreed that there should be additional municipal representation in the LCEDC, and has spoken to Chamber Foundation leaders about this in the past.
“I think the concept of a private-public partnership is beneficial,” he said.
Vogler said he wonders if the board of commissioners has the authority to demand these changes.
He said as the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is still looking for a new CEO, after the removal of CEO Alex McCoy in February, he hopes the next leader will be more open to these suggestions and have a stronger relationship with the municipalities.
Boyd said he would like to have hope in the next director, but said these amendments would be guaranteed safeguards to ensure changes are made.
Therefore, after further discussion, the commissioners agreed to table voting on the resolution and the proposed amendments until a later meeting.
Vogler noted a 2003 resolution designating the county’s industrial development organization will still remain in effect until a new resolution is approved.
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Boyd/Bernstine seek answers regarding CEO search
A search has been ongoing for a new CEO for the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, after McCoy's removal.
In a joint statement with state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10, New Beaver, Boyd said an email was sent from the search committee, about a presentation for the community on July 15 from the top candidates for the role, to get public input.
However, Boyd said on July 14, 19 hours before the event was to take place, an email stated the event would be postponed due to “circumstances beyond our control,” and an “unforeseen conflict with one of the candidates.”
“This was found to be an outright falsehood,” claimed Boyd and Bernstine.
The statement states multiple board members told the pair that all CEO candidates withdrew their names from consideration after their individual analysis of the Forward Lawrence organizations.
Therefore, the pair is calling on Forward Lawrence to immediately publicly disclose all information related to the CEO search.
Chamber of commerce representative responds to Boyd
When reached for comment, Randy Silverman, who is president of the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce board, spoke on behalf of the LCEDC, regarding the comments made by Boyd.
“We have heard the opinions voiced by Commissioner Boyd over the last several months, and it is difficult not to respond when the integrity of our organizations and its members are publicly put into question with gross exaggerations of selected facts,” he said. “However, any response provided to the media only fuels a negative perception of Lawrence County perpetuated by public accusations and rebuttals. To remain silent is not arrogance but humility.”
Silverman said it has been difficult to identify and attract a CEO with the capacity and willingness to make the changes that are being asked for, when the candidates are discouraged from moving forward.
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“Yet despite this, we remain willing to work with the county and its municipalities to improve the economic development systems in Lawrence County,” he said. “We are only one part of those systems and need to work together to implement effective change.”
Silverman said the chamber and LCEDC staff and board members continue to meet with Commissioners Vogler and Spielvogel monthly, as a measure of cooperation and accountability, and extend that invitation to Commissioner Boyd to solve the issues together, rather than reiterate the issues that have plagued progress over social media.
“The chamber executive committee will continue to work with the staff as we have been for the past five months,” he said. “We are currently working on alternative strategies.”
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Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Ellwood City Ledger. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Boyd calls for restructuring of LCEDC, resignations of their leaders
